Perhaps we should now expect an easyJet announcement for flights to Manchester!

I am surprised by this news. As said above, usually good loads. Another step towards the end of the Gatwick base? Just this morning on Bloomberg there was a note that BA will be reviewing the Gatwick base fleet for future developments. Or something along those lines anyway.

I noticed a reduction in Flybe's SOU - MAN services too when before they had lots, maybe the Cross Country train service from Southampton to Manchester Piccadilly and Virgin Train services to Euston are slowly killing it off which is sad because the earliest time i could arrive at MAN to spend the day there would be close to 12pm which means i miss the bulk of the morning traffic i would like to photograph.

Quoting Flyingfox27 (Reply 6):I noticed a reduction in Flybe's SOU - MAN services too when before they had lots, maybe the Cross Country train service from Southampton to Manchester Piccadilly and Virgin Train services to Euston are slowly killing it off

Re: Flybe SOU-MANI doubt Cross Country is having much of an effect when you consider the long and winding route taken by its trains. In general UK domestic aviation is in the doldrums because of the economic downturn and the cost of APD which must be paid for every flight.

Yes, I was booked on the early morning SOU-MAN flight 23 Nov to have a few hours at MAN before heading to my company's conference later on that day but had an email from Flybe saying flight is now at 11.10.

It was rumoured in another place that EZY were looking closely at MAN-LGW. As soon as they dumped the MAN nightstopper this route was dead. Flown it many times, always a bargain and seldom busy.
Another LGW route more suited to the B733/B735 to maintain frequency. The B734 is just too big.

Quoting AIR MALTA (Reply 15):Well, if they cancel 3 daily flights to MAN and without planning to retire one aircraft, they would need to add new routes or increase existing ones...

BA have made a number changes to there S13 schedule already. Changes are based on S12 operation. The changes include frequency increases & reductions as well as operational day changes. Full details of what has changed so below.

New Routes

Alicante - Flights will resume after being dropped a few years back. Flights will operate 17 x Weekly until 1st July 2013 when flights will increase to 3 x Daily

Quoting GSTBA (Reply 16):BA have made a number changes to there S13 schedule already. Changes are based on S12 operation. The changes include frequency increases & reductions as well as operational day changes. Full details of what has changed so below.

Yes but the new routes to Alicante and Barcelona came to replace the previously operated flights to MRS and BLQ which were transferred to LHR.

I can't see either U2 or BE taking up this route. I certainly couldn't see the latter making it work.

Quoting Flyingfox27 (Reply 6):I noticed a reduction in Flybe's SOU - MAN services too when before they had lots, maybe the Cross Country train service from Southampton to Manchester Piccadilly and Virgin Train services to Euston are slowly killing it off

It's still five daily for now, that's hardly bad between two regional points. They are likely to see some benefit on this route from BA dropping LGW-MAN, which is another reason why I think it would be foolish of them to try.

Quoting LondonCity (Reply 10):I doubt Cross Country is having much of an effect when you consider the long and winding route taken by its trains. In general UK domestic aviation is in the doldrums because of the economic downturn and the cost of APD which must be paid for every flight.

The economy and APD are two prime issues, although FlyBe in particular are struggling for their own reasons.

Were many passengers connecting to long haul flights at LGW, as I imagine that's the only reason to operate such a route? With most of the BA long haul routes from LGW to leisure destinations, I imagine there are plenty of direct/charter flights from MAN anyway for many of them.

Let's stop the wailing and gnashing of teeth over this "loss" and turn it into an opportunity for the likes of Virgin and Thomson to launch new services from MAN to the Caribbean and other beach destinations which passengers have previously had to connect through LGW to get to.

Rgds

So I drive a 4x4. So what?! Tax the a$$ off me for it...oh, you already have... :-(

Several have equated high load factor with profitability whereas the relationship is only approximate. Yield is the critical criterion. An aircraft may be full, but if the customers didn't pay much for the tickets, due competition/market forces, the receipts won't cover operating cost. There are many examples of full aircraft not making money.

Quoting factsonly (Reply 24):Must we conclude that BA is loosing the LGW battle with EZY

As long as the cost bases are so different its inevitable when so many travellers are cost focussed above all else.

I believe we need need to keep things in perspective here. Airlines start and drop routes all the time. Most of the low-cost airlines do so more often than the legacy carriers, but are careful only to announce new routes rarely mentioning the ones they are dropping. British Airways have announced the closure of the Gatwick-Manchester route for their own commercial reasons. If another airline believes they can make money on that route they will take it up, if not they wont. Its that simple.
As for the BA Gatwick base itself I believe it will continue. They will probably develop more long haul leisure destinations which may include overspill for some routes also served from Heathrow (Las Vegas is an example). The short haul network will continue to serve destinations that require frequency and competitive fares aswell as those niche seasonal destinations that can fill both Club and Economy cabins. This may also include destinations already served from Heathrow where demand for leisure travel is greatest as well as demand for transfer to BA long haul. (Examples being Barcelona, Nice and Rome).
In time newer aircraft will arrive. BA Gatwick will never be huge but will provide a big enough presence that suits London's second airport. BA still carries 5million passengers a year to and from Gatwick. Somehow I don t believe they will be willing just to give them away.
So one route down maybe a couple of new ones to be announced. Hardly the end of life as we know it.

I wasnt implying that the route was profitable, only that when I flew the route that it seemed full to me. But its still surprising to me that they are dropping it and I am a bit disappointed because I would no longer have the smooth connection to the caribbean flights I take out of LGW.

Please let me know... If you know this is the end of the world, Let me know... If you know the truth...

Quoting liverpoola380 (Reply 27):If only they would have retained focus and adjust the business models we would have a flourishing airline

Adjust it to what? The cost base against the new boys was uncompetitive with the consequence BA had to charge beyond what the market was willing to pay. A lot of good people tried for many years to save the regional business, it wasn't to be for a variety of reasons.
Remember LGW isn't feeding the core business, it's point to point leisure with *some* feed, loss making on MAN-LGW it seems. The remaining short haul business, well it does appear to be in ever decreasing circles. Until the RFP for replacing those B737-400s is signed off, I doubt whether BA want to stay in easyJet's core business. Is AVIOS redemption enough of a reason to maintain the short haul routes?

As always Skipness talks a lot of sense. We seem to be perusing the same forums too!!
Just wondering if Easyjet or BE would look at this route.
I know that BE are unhapy with Gatwick charges butt maybe a thrice daily 118 seater E195 would work especially if they had codeshares.
Easyjet Airbuses may be too big, but there again maybe lower fares would stimulate demand.
Anyway we shall see in the next few days.
V.